obituario
/obiˈtwaɾjo/
The English word obituary is translated into Spanish as obituario. Wiktionary also lists esquela and necrología.
Meaning: brief notice of a person’s death, especially one published in a newspaper (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| obituario | /obiˈtwaɾjo/ | |
| esquela | /esˈkela/ | feminine |
| necrología | /nekɾoloxia/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
Which one should you use?
Use obituario to refer to the obituary itself. Use esquela for a formal, short death notice or announcement published in newspapers or printed on cards. Use necrología when referring to the specific section of a newspaper dedicated to death notices and obituaries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, esquela is commonly used instead of esquela mortuoria.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural forms are obituarios for obituario, esquelas for esquela and necrologías for necrología.
How do you pronounce it?
/obiˈtwaɾjo/
Did you know?
- The word esquela traces its roots back to the Latin scheda, meaning a piece of paper, rather than describing the content of the message itself.
- In Spain, the esquela is often displayed on a physical board in the local church or a community center, not just in the newspaper.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is customary for the esquela to include a request for prayers or a specific mass for the deceased.
Examples in context
- ¿Quién escribió este obituario?Who wrote this obituary?This sentence is useful for asking about the authorship of an obituario.Tatoeba #11698090 by 0987654321ok, translation #11688255 by CK
- Nunca olvidaremos el gran corazón de [nombre del fallecido] y su dedicación a ayudar a los demás.We will never forget [deceased's name]'s big heart and dedication to helping others.
- Leí un obituario muy conmovedor esta mañana.I read a very moving obituary this morning.
- El obituario de la sección local es muy extenso.The obituary in the local section is very long.
Example conversation
María and Javier are looking at a newspaper in the living room.
- MaríaJavier, ¿has visto el obituario de la sección de cultura?Javier, have you seen the obituary in the culture section?
- JavierNo, María, ¿está en la página principal?No, María, is it on the front page?
- MaríaNo, está en la parte de atrás.No, it is in the back section.
- JavierLo buscaré ahora mismo.I will look for it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “obituary” translations and entries obituario, esquela, necrología, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esquela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
